San Antonio, Texas is rich with history and is easily one of the best educational cities for families to visit. The kids will enjoy visiting the famous Alamo and taking a stroll down the Riverwalk. This 8th largest city in the United States is a great destination for a weekend getaway. Check out all the kid friendly things you can do during your visit.
How To Spend a Weekend in San Antonio with Kids
San Antonio is one of my all-time favorite places to visit in Texas. It’s rich with history and is easily one of the best educational cities for families to visit. I’ve lived in Texas all my life and when we’re looking for a 3-day weekend getaway, San Antonio always makes it to the top of our list. There are just so many things to see and do while visiting the area. We’ve put together a list of great things to do and places to go so you can create the perfect weekend itinerary that the whole family will enjoy!
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Attractions
Here is a list of attractions in the area. You could easily spend an entire day at any one of these so be sure to have enough time carved out for your visit. I wouldn’t recommend visiting more than one of these in a day.
SeaWorld & Aquatica San Antonio
San Antonio is home to one of the three Sea World’s in the U.S. I remember visiting with my grandparents when I was a pre-teen and I enjoyed the many thrill rides, shows and seasonal events. This is a great attraction to visit if you have younger children.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
This is San Antonio’s biggest, most popular themed attraction. They have rides for all ages and even a water park that will help you cool off during the hot summer days.
Splashtown
This attraction is open seasonally so check their schedule before planning your visit. At Splashtown you will find 20 acres of family water park fun! They’re known for their 40 watersides, a 1/2 million gallon wave pool and 1/4 mile long Siesta Del Rio. It’s located just 3 minutes North of downtown San Antonio.
The DoSeum
This popular attraction is a museum for kids full of indoor and outdoor activities that emphasize hands-on creativity and learning. One of our TravelingMoms wrote about ‘How to do the DoSeum‘
Outdoor Adventures
San Antonio is so beautiful that you’re going to want to explore one or more of these outdoor adventures. Don’t worry, all of these suggestions are good options for the entire family.
Natural Bridge Caverns
This is one of my personal favorites. Exploring these caverns is such a cool experience. You’ll be amazed every part of the way as you walk down into the largest known commercial caverns in the U.S state of Texas. I recommend this for children 5 and older. Small children are welcome but walking down into the dark caves might frighten little ones. My 5 year old loved it but she never let go of my hand!
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
Located at the same entrance as the Natural Bridge Cavers. These would be two fun places to visit in the same day. The wildlife ranch is a drive-thru safari through 450 acres of rolling hills, creek beds, and magnificent live oak trees. You will see over 500 animals from 40 exotic, native and endangered animal species worldwide. If you’ve never experienced a drive-thru safari you must!
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Walking through the beautiful botanical gardens is so much fun and a great break from the busy attractions. There are 38 acres to explore and they have many seasonal events, exhibits, classes and camps so be sure to check their schedule ahead of time. The Garden is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
San Antonio Zoo
Who doesn’t enjoy an animal adventure? Kids love visits to the Zoo with their family and this 35-acre zoo has a collection of over 3,500 animals representing 750 species. TIP: Visit as early in the day as possible to avoid the heat.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
If your family is into hiking then you should check out the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. There are 11 miles of walking trails and you can climb the ancient dome for amazing Hill Country views.
Arts and Culture
The Alamo
Sharing the story of the Alamo with your kids and watching as they time travel back to the events that took place there is both fun and educational. If you’re visiting San Antonio you can’t leave without seeing The Alamo and hearing “the story bigger than Texas”.
The Riverwalk
Strolling up and down the Riverwalk is always a highlight for families. The Riverwalk connects to the city’s five Spanish colonial missions, which have been named a World Heritage Site.
The Witte Museum
This museum is located on the banks of the San Antonio River in Brackenridge Park. This museum is dedicated to telling the stories of Texas, from prehistory to the present.
The McNay Art Museum
This museum is nearby the Alamo and the Riverwalk and it’s a great cultural experience that you won’t want to miss. It’s a 1929 mansion with American & European art. If you have any kids that are into art, this would be a fun place to take them.
Don’t Forget About All The Free Things To Do
Did you know that there are over 20 free things to do in San Antonio? There are some incredible museums and parks that the kids will love to explore. During the summer there are free outdoor movies throughout the city.
Where To Stay When You Visit
When traveling with my family I’m always looking for the right accommodations because we like to spend some time just relaxing together, sleeping in, watching movies, and taking it easy! I also like to find hotels and resorts that have nearby restaurants and things for us to do so that we don’t have to go far. The JW Marriot San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa has 7-dining options so you won’t have to go far to find a variety of food options. They have incredible seasonal events so be sure to check the schedule to what’s happening during your visit.
I was thrilled to have the chance to stay at the JW Marriot San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. I’ve always loved the hill country but I’ve only ever stayed downtown San Antonio so I was excited to try some place new. First of all, I give this resort 5 stars for how kid-friendly they are. The resort is beautiful and the views of the rolling hills from our room was a gift to wake up to each day. We loved that the resort was nestled away from the crowded downtown area. On our weekend getaways we like to enjoy fun adventures during the day but then in the evening we want to escape the crowds and unwind.
Gold Course, Water Park and Spa
Remember, the perfect weekend getaway includes something for everyone to love. The JW Marriot San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa has an incredible nine acre water park featuring a 650-foot rapid river and 1,100-foot lazy river! We are already planning to visit again during the summer months because the kids thought this was one of the “best water parks” that they’d ever been to!
Of course if you enjoy golfing then the two stunning PGA-Certified, TPC golf courses will bring a smile to your face. We can’t forget the spa because mom needs to unwind and relax with a massage! Like we said, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The Rooms
As a larger family, traveling and staying in a hotel/resort can be a challenge when there is not enough space. We stayed in conjoining rooms which was ideal for our family of 5. We loved that there was more than enough room for us all and that we each had our own T.V and bathroom. The balcony overlooking the water park and rolling hills was a bonus too!
JW Marriot San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
I can’t say enough good things about our stay at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. The entire staff was friendly and easy to work with. The resort had so many restaurants and seasonal events. The water park, golf course, and spa made it possible for us all enjoy something special during our visit. In the evening we would walk down to the main area of the resort where they had couches, tables with games, and a bar. My husband and I would sit there with the other families and enjoy a drink while watching the kids play. They enjoyed checkers, chess and pool. It was truly a relaxing getaway. We saw weddings, corporate events, family reunions and more happening at the resort. This is now our most favorite place to stay in San Antonio!
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